Printer Friendly Version - No Easy Fluke Decision on 2024 Regulations

It has been a whirlwind family week, as Anthony Pesce of Madison (TL) went from catching sailfish, mahi-mahi, false albacore with brother Luciano (TR) and largemouth bass in Florida, to hooking Connecticut trout on the return trip home. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Ahead of finalizing regulations, CT DEEP’s information meeting gathered diverse input from recreational fishers frequenting Long Island Sound. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

Fly fishing for catch and release late winter rainbow trout can be tricky, over and above the normal challenges, as Michael McNiff of Guilford discovered when iced up fly rod guides became an issue. Photo courtesy of Captain Morgan

A Marine Recreational Regulations Informational webinar meeting, primarily concerning summer flounder and scup, was held on Feb. 28. Much of what was reviewed had been discussed and covered during the CT DEEP Marine Advisory Group’s Jan. 17 meeting, where NOAA Fisheries Final Rule for 2024 and Projected Specifications for the Summer Flounder and Scup Fisheries for 2025 was on the agenda.

After reviewing how we got to this point and detailing a newer, more effective methodology of managing fisheries, host Justin Davis, PhD, CT DEEP Assistant Director, Fisheries Division, Marine Fisheries Program, got down to the business at hand. The coast-wide harvest reductions for 2024, 10% (scup) and 28% (fluke), were probed, along with options set forth to achieve those goals. This was the opportunity for the recreational fishing community at large to provide input, query about adjoining states of New York and Rhode Island, and discuss regional management. Being on the same page (or generally close) will go a long way in making for a smoother fishing season when crossing state regulatory demarcation lines.

When it came to summer flounder options, feelings among the recreational fishing public in attendance varied. Although the group was small, it represented western, mid and eastern Long Island Sound fluke fishers. Options discussed took into account varying open seasons (from April 1- Oct. 31) including a summer split season, minimum size lengths of 18.5-19.5”, and a daily creel limit of either three or four fish.

The driving factor favoring individual choices centered around the migration of fluke during the season. Seeming to follow an early squid run and climatic conditions, an early opening was more desirable in the western Sound, while mid-Sound fishers leaned toward a later start, followed by a similar feeling with eastern flukers. Similar feelings followed with end-of-season closures, since catches fell off earlier in western Sound, and later to the east. Therefore, pro/con comments were addressed accordingly.

Discussing scup was simpler and more straightforward for recreational private boats. Consensus favored Option 1. Open season would be from May 1 - Dec. 31. Minimum size went from 10.5 to 11”, and the daily creel limit will remain at 30 fish per angler. Charter/Party boats will have a split season, same minimum size limit, and a 30 or 40 fish daily creel limit, depending on which leg of the season.

Comments made at the public meeting were for the record, and will be taken into consideration when decisions are made. As a side, for anyone interested in assisting CT DEEP in their effort to effectively manage our fishery through their in-season Marine Volunteer Angler Survey Program, contact Dave Molnar at 860-434-6043, or david.molnar@ct.gov.

Low pressure, accompanied by colder air temperatures, passed over our area as a warm front approached, bringing rain and gusty winds. Another short-lived cold front developed, but right behind it, high pressure built again, with warmer air temperatures into the high 50s and low 60s. Spring rain swept through, as a low pressure system slowly approached from the south. Long Island Sound water temperatures have been moving up and down by 1-2 degrees, but as the fronts moved through, gusty winds blew to 35 knots, kicking seas up to 4-6 feet before subsiding to around one foot. Fret not, spring is working at it, but, perhaps, not without a few more struggles.

Unless rain and high winds deterred trout anglers from the lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, they managed to squeeze in the time before catch and keep ceased on March 1. That change will remain in effect on most waters until 6 a.m. on the second Saturday in April. Catches of trout were mixed in all areas of the state. From the trout parks to trout management areas, these cold water fish were caught on lures, live and scented baits, as well as nymph and streamer fly patterns. Nevertheless, warmer days did draw increased attention to live worms. Ultra lite spinning combos and 4-5 wgt fly rod setups were the predominant gear choices that were most successful.

Air temperatures that rose into the high 50s did quite a bit to energize the largemouth lakes and ponds. Landlocked alewives were a key food of these bass living in Bass Management and Trout Management Lakes. Lake Quonnipaug is just such a TML that contains largemouths, and where trout are legal to catch from March 1 until the second Saturday in April. During that extended period, the daily limit is one trout at a 16” minimum length - a benefit of a TML. At 6 a.m. on April 13, the daily creel limit at this lake becomes five trout. Anglers have found success using live shiners and hard swimmers, spoons, and inline spinners.

Carp have been showing sluggish activity in the upper Connecticut River, where warmer water has been discharged at the hydropower plant outflows. The river is one of the most extensively dammed rivers in the nation, where, throughout the watershed, there are 65 major dams. Carp have very sensitive mouths, so when fishing for them, pay particular attention to hook size and rigging. Snelling a hook, leaving a loose loop lying along the hook shank and filled with a bait ball, is an effective way to increase hookups.

Other fishing opportunities to look at are found in waters stocked with broodstock Atlantic Salmon, bony fish such as pickerel and northern pike, catfish, yellow perch, and other panfish, such as bluegills and white perch. Additionally, take a look at a couple of the main tidal rivers for sunrise to sunset catch and release striped bass, using pinched-down barbed hooks on soft and hard lures. For the thin bloods, word has it that the low latitudes have been experiencing some really good fishing.

Note: Commercial American Yellow Eel catches plummet from 3,700,000 pounds in 1978 to 300,000 pounds in 2020. Management plans regarding coast-wide cap and exceeding it are underway to counteract the decline.

Fly Fishing Clinic: Now accepting reservations for 2024. An outstanding opportunity for the experienced or intermediate fly fisher! Booking inland and marine fly fishing lessons with top flight, highly experienced instructors and guides. From trout, salmon, steelhead, and sea-run browns to striped bass, bonefish, permit, and tarpon, etc., techniques learned and honed will improve your fishing. Gift certificates are also available.

Note: Email us pics of your catches to share with our USA and International fishing friends who keep up with the latest fishing news and frequent social media.

For all things fishy, including the latest gear, flies/fly fishing, rods/reels, clam/crabbing supplies, fishing trips, licenses/permits, and much more, swing by the shop (203-245-8665), open seven days, located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline's full-service fishing outfitter and Authorized Penn Premium Dealer, where we don't make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better.